Happy Howlidays

With the weather outside so frightful, stay inside with fido and bake something delightful.

Written by Brandie Ahlgren; Photography by J. Nichole Smith

What is it about the holidays that inspires one to dust off the baking pans, don an apron and start mixing up a batch of something delicious? Maybe it’s the change in weather, spending more time indoors, the smell of freshly baked cookies to bring back childhood memories, or all of the above. Whatever the reason, ‘tis the season for whipping up some delicious treats for you and your hound!

If pressed for time or baking is not your style, Droolz Organics’ healthy, ready-to-bake dog treats are perfect. They come already mixed, cut into heart shapes, and ready to throw in the oven. Fifteen minutes later, you have freshly baked dog cookies. Made in Seattle, Droolz are loaded with wholesome, organic fruits and veggies, so you can offer your furry family members and friends a treat you can feel good about—even if you didn’t totally bake them yourself. Droolz is sold in Seattle at Scraps Dog Bakery, 2200 Westlake (droolzorganics.com).

If baking is your style, here are two recipes from CityDog readers that are sure to make tails wag! Give them as gifts to your dog’s dog park pals or let your treat hound keep them all for himself.

1. Preheat oven to 350.Grease cake or muffin tins. 2. Puree the chicken breasts in a food processor until minced. Add eggs and oil; pulse lightly until combined. Combine oat flour and baking powder; add to chicken mixture and pulse until combined. Add parsley and carrot and pulse until thoroughly distributed. (Can all be combined by hand if you don’t have a processor). 3. Pour mixture into cake or muffin tin(s). Cake(s) will raise slightly, so don’t overfill the muffin tins too much. 4. Bake about 30 minutes for muffins, about 45 minutes for one large cake — or until a thermometer inserted into cake reads 180 degrees. Cool completely. 5. To frost, whip pre-whipped cream cheese with a few tablespoons of unsalted chicken broth. Spread liberally onto cake(s). Recipe courtesy of Rose Bigham.

1. Preheat oven to 400.Grease cookie sheet. 2. Place dough on cookie sheet and shape into a long, flat log (about 1-inch thick). 3. Bake for 20 minutes. 4. Let cool then cut into 1-inch thick slices and bake for another 10-12 minutes until crisp. 5. While Wooscotti is cooling, melt about ½ cup of carob chips in microwave. If you need to thin the melted carob, just add a bit of water. Once your carob is melted, drizzle it over sliced Wooscotti.Recipe courtesy of Valerie Barker-Biggs.